James reed



NITED STATES PATENT OrricEi JAMES REED, 0E ALTooNA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,711, dated December 26, 1882.

Application filed September 20, 1882. (No model.)

To all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, JAMES REED, of Altoona, county ot' Blair, and Statevot' Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improven ments in Frogs, Switches, 85o.; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ot reference marked thereon.

r1`his invention is designed to prevent thein- 1jury which is done to frogs, safety castings 0r blocks, and switches ordinarily by the passage over lthem of wheels having worn tires or treads; and it consists broadly of a frog, safety-casting, or switch having upon its upper bearingsurl'ace a groove or cut-away place correspond ing in form with the outline ot' the projecting portion ot' a worn tire or tread, as will be fully described hereinafter.

In the drawings, Figures land 2 represent a plan and sectional elevation ot' an ordinary i'rog modified in the manner prepared; Fig. 3, a sectional elevation of a safety-casting modih'ed in like manner; Figs. 4 and 5, a plan and sectional elevation of a. split switch, also modilicd in like manner.

To enable others skilled in the art to make my improved frogs,&c., I will proceed to describe fully the manner of constructing the same.

A, Figs. l and 2, represents the main rail leading to the frog, which is of the usnal wellltnown construction.

B represents the sliding rail, leading to the frog, the upper bearing-surface of which is cut away in lines parallel to the main track, as shown in Fig. l., to a proper depth, as shown in Fig. 2.

C represents the main track-rail, leading to the frog from the opposite side, which 1s cut away in a similar manner.

D, Fig. 2, represent-s a car or engine wheel, the tire or tread of which is so worn as to have a portion, d, projecting below its main bearing'- surtace d', as shown. By means of the described construction the wheel l) is permitted to pass the frog without causing the slightest injury, the cutaway place affording proper space for the projection d of' the worn tire.

E, Fig. 3, represents a safety-casting of the Wharton switch, modilied in' form for the same purpose. F, Figs. 4 and 5, represents a split switch, in which the rail to siding is moditied in form for the same purpose. These modifications may be effected in frogs and rails in use by cutting the saine properly in a planer; but it is possible of course to introduce these features when the parts are first made.

The great advantage resulting from the employment ot' this invent-ion is that the serions damage caused ordinarily by the passage ot' badly-worn wheels over the road 1s entirely prevented.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patenti, is-

A t'rog, safety casting or block, or switchrail having its upper bearing-surface cutaway, substantially as and for the purpose described.

This specification signed and witnessed this 11th day ot' September, 1882.

JAMES REED.

Witnesses:

I. R. BINGAMAN, G. A. BUCH. 

